By: Kenneth Harrison

TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services

We’re going to take a look at the state championship games for the highest classifications.

The GHSA 6A state championship game between Buford (14-0) and Carrolton (14-0) is a national championship game.

Buford is the consensus No. 1 team with top rankings in USA Today, ESPN and The Sporting News. Carrollton is No. 1 in MaxPreps and Hsratings.com (formerly CalPreps).

That means Georgia could have its first national champion since Colquitt County finished No. 1 in the High School Football America and Prep Force rankings in 2015. Milton was named the No. 1 public-school team in America last season by High School Football America but finished No. 2 overall.

Carrolton beat previous No. 1 Grayson 34-14 in the state semifinals.

“We’re aggressive up front on the defensive side of the ball,” Carrolton coach Joey King said. “Our guys, they fly around and play extremely hard. Our word of the week this week was effort, which means for every phase to play with great effort. I definitely thought our defense did that.”

“I think we’ve got one of the best offensive lines in the state,” senior quarterback Mason Holtzclaw said. “They do a great job with anything we run. Our coaching staff was able to dial up some run plays for both of us as quarterbacks, dial up the pass plays and be able to beat them on the perimeter. So we had a great plan going into this game, and I’m really proud of the team.”

Freshman CJ Cypher finished the game 12-of-20 passing for 226 yards and a touchdown and rushed for 12 yards on two carries. Holtzclaw was 4-of-6 passing for 65 yards and rushed for 31 yards on six carries.

“They do a good job,” King said. “Whatever we ask them to do, they’re willing to do, whether that’s take a deep shot, throw a quick screen, hand the ball off or run the ball at times. They’re both just tough kids, gritty kids and unselfish kids that are willing to do whatever it takes for the team.”

Buford can win its 15th state title. Only Valdosta, with 24, has more. The Wolves beat No. 5 Valdosta 39-7 in the semifinals.

I think this will be a very close game. I believe Buford will win.

Let’s take a look at the 5A state title game.

Thomas County Central is 14-0, the No. 1 seed from Region 2-5A and ranked #2 in the state; Gainesville is 12-2, the No. 2 seed from 7-5A and ranked #4 in the state.

The Yellow Jackets beat No. 3 Roswell 49-28 in the semifinals. They have not had any close games this season. The closest game they’ve had was a 35-21 win over No. 8 Lee County during the regular season.

Thomas County Central has a chance to win their seventh state championship. It would also be their second state title in three seasons. Jaylen Johnson (2,503 passing yards) and Deuce Lawrence (1,836 rushing yards, signed with Wake Forest) lead an offense that averages 53.3 points per game. WR Jaydon Dunbar (signed with Pitt) and WR Jabari Watkins (committed to Nebraska) are top recruits.

The Red Elephants beat Rome 37-6 in the semifinals. They are led by Kharim Hughley, a junior committed to Clemson and he’s thrown for 2,467 yards.

Nigel Newkirk is a 1,400-yard rusher but he was injured in the semifinals. The defensive front seven has highly recruited players like LB Xavier Griffin (Alabama), DL Jamarion Matthews (Alabama), DL Ayden Cain (Duke) and DE Kadin Fossung (Tulsa).

I think Thomas County Central will win this game.